St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-04-02
THE COMMISSION.


Commissioner Morrison Eager for the
| Fray-An Avalanche of Correspondence
Ready to Fall
WASHINGTON, March 24.-The personnel
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
is the chief topic of conversation here,
and. as a general thing. the composition
of the commission seems TO g i've satisfac-
ton. The high character, competence
and special fitness of the five gentlemen
for the work before them, is generally adj
mitted, and is considered ample com
pensation for The long delay in appointing
them, and the President is freely credited
with having brought one OF the most diff
ficult tasks he has yet encountered to
very gratifying and successful oEclusion.
The critic, in this connection, while
| commenting editorialy on the composition
of the commission, doubtless reflects the
| opinion of fair minded men of all parties
| in saving: 1.-The President has done wise
| ", as a matter of self-defense, in select
| ing commissioners on the basis Of merit,
and thus relieving himself OF RESPONSE
bllty in a greater degree than he could
have done by appointments based in
! greater degree upon political or personal
| considerations.
| The organization OF the Commission is
! the next thing looked for. The commits
| sions of the m embers were signed by the
| President yesterday, and were ready to
| be sent to them. and it is expected they
| will meet in Washington in a few days
and organize and get ready for the delicate
! and difficult duties before them, and
which will begin on the 9Th of next month,
| the date on which the Interstate Com
merce law goes into effect.
Four Of the commissioners are at their
| homes and will require some time to close
| up their p resent business affairs. Colonel
| MORRISON, who is in Washington, desires
! to return to his home and settle up some
| personal matters. The delay on the part
| of the commissioners in getting together
and organizing is not as serious as the
delay which, it is feared, will grow out of
the selection of quarters and clerks, and
the performance of a vast amount of
CORES pondence before the com omission
can take intelligent action on any Of the
problems that are sure to be thrust upon
it. The gravest and most fundamental
questions have arisen under the new law,
and upon these it is of the utmost import
ance that the commission should clearly
define its position before proceeding with
the work. Two members of the commits
sion, at least have probably az yet given
very little attention to these questions.
The questions referred to are of the most
radical character. In the first place. it is
disputed whether the law applies to ship
merits made from one point to another
within State, or only to those from
one State to another. The con-
struction of the clause ''under
like clrcums tances and conditions,''
the clause in reference to long and short
hauls, and other phrases used in the act,
and provisions made by it, are so various
U cd Inv
that one construction would reduce the
effects of the new law to the most unim-
portant character, while another would
lead to complete reversal of commercial
conditions and trans portaton methods,
and affect every branch of trade and every
interest throughout the United States
While it is generally believed that the
comm iSsion is so instituted as to secure
conservative rulings on these questions, {
it is conceded that many POINTS of vast
Importance are in doubt.
The bill appropriates 800, 600 for ali ex-
penses of the COMMISSION for the first
year of its existence while other expenses
Incidental to it are to be met out of other
appropriations for the Interior Depart-
ment and the courts
The salaries of five commissioners at
$500 each, and of the secretary at $500,
and other stipulated expenses. leaves
about $4,000 TO be expended for assist
ance, clerical service, etc. This repre-
sents large clerical and official force, to
be appointed in such manner, at such
rates and for such duties as the commits
sion sees fit but subject in every case to
the approval of the Secretary of the In.
terror. A large and important bureau will
undoubtedly be rapidly organized
Information has been received that
thousands of communications, queries,
complaints, etc, are ready to pourin upon
the commission whenever it is ready to |
receive them A gentleman we'll qualified =
to speak, recently told the President that
a house full of such documents was ready
for mailing as soon as the commission or
ganized.
MI Morrison says that he hopes and
expects the other commissioners will
reach Washington in a day or two. so
they can organize and get ready for work
as soon as possible. He could not, of
course, in advance of meeting his col
leagues, with certainty say what oues-
tons would first engage the attention of
the commission. The disputed law ques-
lions would probably be taken up at once,
and as an Interpretation was reached and
agreed upon in each case, it would be pub
llcly announced. Mr.. Morrison spoke con-
hdently of the beneficent results that
would grow out of the enforcement of
the new law, and If the other members of
the commission, when they reach WASH
lngton, are as eager for the fray as he APP
pears to be, it will not be many days be-
fore the commission will be hard at ,,
work
Senator Edmunds in an interview spoke
1lghly of Mr.. Walker, the Vermont mem
Der of the commission, whom, he said, he
1neW thoroughly. Mr., Walker, he said,
las had considerable experience as
State legislator, in dealing with railroad
questions. He was a man of extraordi-
larry ability, fine scholar, a man of lit
'rary attainmenss. vigorous, industrious
and honest, ''all the way through" and
strong man in every respect When
Questioned about the report that Mr.